the Café in the Hall in Loughborough has become one of the latest cafes to join Starbucks Community Café programme.

The new partnership will give The Café in the Hall the ability to place regular orders for supplies such as coffee, tea and milk jugs to help sustain their integral community space.

The Café in the Hall has been open for four years and provides a focal point for groups and meetings at Fearon Hall, near to All Saints Parish Church. The café offers affordable drinks, home-made cakes, snacks and a community lunch in a relaxed and friendly environment. Run by just two volunteers, The Café in the Hall welcomes up to 200 visitors each week, most of which are on a low income and benefit most from the low prices.

This new partnership is part of Starbucks Community Café programme that piloted in August 2017. The four Community Cafés that launched last year, including an innovative coffee truck named Salute that is operated by North Tyneside’s veteran charity Forward Assist, will continue to be part of the programme.

As a founding partner, Starbucks has worked with Neighbourly since 2014 to deliver support to hundreds of local community causes across the UK. Together they have identified community spaces that could benefit most from the support of regular access to essential items. 2018 marks Starbucks 20th year since opening in the UK, and its work with all 20 community cafés will mean that each can continue to offer their local communities the space, support and guidance that is relied upon by many.

Emma Pimm at The Café in the Hall, said: “Myself and the other volunteers here at The Café in the Hall are so excited to be a part of the Starbucks Community Café programme.

“We aim to be a welcoming place for all, especially for those who are on a low income, lonely, or simply in need of a place where they feel welcome. Working with Starbucks is going to make a huge difference!”

Nick Davies, founder of Neighbourly, said: “Many community cafés across the UK are struggling with funding and the resources to stay alive, but the importance of them to so many people is undeniable whether they focus on youth, social isolation, exclusion or homelessness.

“We hope the support and donations will go some way in making sure that cafés like The Café in the Hall remain an integral part of the community for years to come.”